Comments on: Rejection

By: Charlotte Babb

Charlotte Babb — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:24:39 +0000

Having received this week both a rejection of a short story, and a note from my agent that an editor is taking a nibble on my first novel, I really needed some perspective on this issue. book two is coming along and the pieces are beginning to fall into place. Thank you so much for sharing.

By: Maryann Miller

Maryann Miller — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:34:27 +0000

What a wonderful and insightful post. I hope lots of writers read this and take the words to heart. It is hard to get the ego out of the way, but when we do, we can operate much more successfully in the business side of writing and publishing.

By: Jodi Whisenhunt

Jodi Whisenhunt — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:15:51 +0000

Dear Steve,

I’m sad to say you sent me a rejection letter a few months ago. However, that letter is pinned to the wall above my desk. Why? Because you took the time to compliment my work and explain why it’s not a proper fit for you right now. Thank you so much for the personal note! You gave me better understanding of the material I need to produce. Perhaps I’ll have something else to offer you eventually.

By: terri tiffany

terri tiffany — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:09:51 +0000

Great post! I needed to read this one today as I am starting the query process and trying not to get myself all stressed with the rejections sure to come. I love that you mentioned some great writers who were rejected and didn’t give up. I will remember these examples when I am boo-hooing over any of my own:)

By: Ava Pennington

Ava Pennington — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:50:45 +0000

For “Jungle Mom” -

Rachelle Gardner (WordServe Literary Agency) had a guest blogger, Margot Starbuck, this past Thursday, Aug. 27, who wrote on the “Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Memoir.” Here’s the link:
http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/
Hope you find it helpful!

By: Jungle Mom

Jungle Mom — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:57:57 +0000

I am wondering if you, or one of your readers, might be able to direct me to a book geared towards teaching to write autobiographically. I am attempting to write my memoirs of our years as missionaries in the Venezuelan jungle. I have a story but lack the knowledge of how to put it all together.

By: Mike Springer

Mike Springer — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:54:42 +0000

I guess what confused me was Karen’s comment, “And proceeded to bug him about it for the next ten years, telling him the same thing: ‘When you’re ready to send it to me, I’m ready to take it to committee,’” which sure sounds like she was ready to take it to committee anytime John wanted, not that she liked it but everyone mutually agreed the time wasn’t right for it. Thanks for the clarification.

By: Steve Laube

Steve Laube — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:59:44 +0000

Mike, I think my writing of the story may have confused you. And the follow up comments may have added to the confusion. Ten years ago John’s idea would not have sold to the houses that Karen or I worked for at the time. But she never forgot the story. Years later the market changed. Meanwhile John was involved in writing three four other novels, OXYGEN, FIFTH MAN, ADRENALINE, and FOSSIL HUNTER.

You make it sound like John pitched something he didn’t want to sell. Not the case. As I said, read the acknowledgment to his book SHADE for a better version of the story.

See? I was just rejected for writing an incomplete story. I left questions unanswered.

By: Mike Springer

Mike Springer — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:53:01 +0000

Why would John have pitched (or even shown) a proposal/idea if he had no intention of selling it? It sounds like Karen, an acquisitions editor, said yes, and he said, “Uh…never mind.” What’s up with that?

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:26:52 +0000

Great post! I met you at the FL Christian Writer’s Conference one year and you were so very nice! I also remember a lot of jokes about your rejection rate. But you did mention Dekker then and you were extremely helpful and kind. Thanks for this post. It’s a great reminder about the subjectivity of everything.

By: Heidi Willis

Heidi Willis — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:31:10 +0000

This is a wonderful post.

The process can be brutal but rewarding. And it helps knowing that God’s timing is always perfect, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.

By: Lenore Buth

Lenore Buth — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:39:24 +0000

Thanks, Steve. You captured all the facets. The hope, the letdown, the try-again…and again…and… It’s hard for any writer not yet published to imagine insecurity persists after one finally holds one’s book in-hand, but it’s true. That’s when the bookstore check kicks in. Today I needed that reminder about books being not right at one time and perfect at another, so thanks. I’m working on one like that and needed the encouragement that the right time might be now.

By: Lori Benton

Lori Benton — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:58:40 +0000

Dear Steve,

This post reminds me of how I felt after my meeting with you at a conference earlier this year. Yes, you declined my novel, but you gave me the exact feedback I needed to dig deeper, work harder, and make another significant cut to the overlong word count, when I thought I’d done all I could.

Thank you for taking that time with me. It made a difference.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:17:09 +0000

Karen, Karen, Karen,
You PROVE my point. Here I go and tell a great story only to find that my facts weren’t straight. (rejection at its finest) You gotta love this game.

I stand corrected. I do remember you loving his proposal at the conference and suggesting John when the faculty was discussing who should be given the “New Writer of the Year” award. We all agreed that it should be John.

So you didn’t really reject it. Not really. But it would have been a huge stretch for the company you were working for to take it…back then.

And if the “crowd” reading our bickering is wondering…Karen and I are great friends. And I happen to also be HER literary agent.

To further make this story interesting. In John’s proposal…the one Karen bought for B&H, Shade was actually proposed as book three in a trilogy. With many brainstorms and creative thinking, it became the first book in the trilogy and Powers, book two in the trilogy is being shipped in about a month!

By: Karen Ball

Karen Ball — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:01:55 +0000

Okay, I have to set the record straight here. Steve, I love ya, but I didn’t say “no way” to the proposal. In fact, I loved it so much I hunted John down to talk with him about it. And proceeded to bug him about it for the next ten years, telling him the same thing: “When you’re ready to send it to me, I’m ready to take it to committee.” And when John did send it to me as SHADE, I was delighted.

Even so, you ARE right that the market wasn’t ready for SHADE back then. And timing–God’s timing–is everything!

Thanks for the great post, Steve. Love reading your thoughts.